“When you are as good as he can be, we have to hold him to that standard every single night. He could be a real asset for us towards the season. He works very hard. He cares. He wants to be coached,” said head coach Joe Mazzulla about Neemias Queta. So, here is why he said that- last night, the Boston Celtics’ 25-year-old center, who had been a key contributor to their 2023 championship run, filled in for the injured Jaylen Brown. In a dominant win over the Hawks, Queta finished with 10 points, 7 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block in 23 minutes. But did you know he is from Portugal?

Yes, he is from Portugal, a country that’s famous for its vibrant culture, beaches, food, and rich history. However, they haven’t forgotten to leave their mark in sport too. From their pride, Cristiano Ronaldo to Rosa Mota, when someone says Portugal, it definitely brings back some memories. But what about basketball? Well, nothing to worry about, as now, we have Neemias Queta, the first Portuguese in the NBA!

Notably, he isn’t just the first Portuguese player to play, but also the first Portuguese hooper to win an NBA championship, and recently became the first to start an NBA game, which is his latest feat against the Hawks. So, let’s explore who the 7’0″ debutant from Portugal is.

Meet Neemias Queta’s family and the person who shaped his hoops journey

Neemias Esdras Barbosa Queta was born on 3 July 1999 in Lisbon, Portugal, to Bissau-Guinean parents Mica and Djaneuba Queta. He was raised in Vale da Amoreira, in the municipality of Moita. Back home, he started playing soccer at his school and neighborhood. But what led him to choose basketball?

He was just 10 years old when his teacher pushed him to be a hooper. His older sister was a member of their school’s girl’s basketball team, and one day their teacher noticed Neemias was taller than all the other current players on the boy’s team! She asked him to play in the boy’s team so they could have the upper hand. After school, he decided to continue his game, and in 2018 signed up to play for his only offer, sent by the Utah State Aggies in the US.

Well, he was a star there! In his freshman season, he showcased his talent by scoring a season-high 24 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 blocks in an 80–63 win over Saint Mary’s, on 19 November 2018. At the end of the season, the young hooper was awarded Freshman of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year honors!

Neemias averaged 11.8 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks per game, making him the league’s top young player. On that high note, he initially declared for the NBA Draft but then decided to return for another year in college.

But his sophomore season was marked with a knee injury, making him miss his first 9 games. The hooper bounced back on 17 February 2021, posting a career-high 32 points and 10 rebounds in a 79–70 loss to Boise State. He broke his own program blocks record, ranked third nationally in blocks per game, and left as Utah State’s all-time leader in blocks (219). Interestingly, his numbers also allowed him to join a unique club with names like Tim Duncan, Erick Dampier, and Joakim Noah, becoming one of only ten players to surpass 95 or more blocks and 75 or more assists in the same season.

Here, his illustrious college career ended, but it was also a start to something bigger.

Making it big: Neemias Queta’s NBA journey

“It means a lot to me just because of the responsibility that comes with I’m representing a lot. It’s people back home and a lot of friends, family whatever it may be people that look up to basketball so it’s pretty good to me that I can be the one that represents them I keep like I am just trying to do my best so I can make them proud,” this is how Neemias Queta feels to be the first! So, with this, let’s explore his journey.

Not for too long, but the hooper played in Benfica of the Portuguese Basketball League for two games in the 2017-18 season before parting ways on 31 August 2018. This led him to the NBA. In the 2021 NBA draft with the 39th pick by the Sacramento Kings, he became the first Portuguese player to be drafted. On 8 August 2021, he signed a two-way contract with the Kings, splitting time with their NBA G League affiliate, the Stockton Kings. He was a regular presence for the Californian team. Then, on 17 December 2021, he made his NBA debut against the Grizzlies, grabbing 5 rebounds and adding an assist and a block.

After his NBA presence, the hooper returned to the G League in January 2022, posting 21 points and 12 rebounds for Stockton. He earned a spot in the G League’s 2022-23 Next-Up Game and received significant fan votes for the 2022 NBA All-Star Game. In August 2023, he signed a standard contract with the Kings but was waived in September.

However, Neemias Queta continued his stardom after he joined the Boston Celtics on a two-way contract on September 19, 2023. On November 26, the youngster impressed with seven points and ten rebounds in a win over the Hawks. What about his early double-doubles in December? Queta recorded his first double-double (10 points and 10 rebounds), followed by another strong performance against the Clippers (14 points with 10 rebounds)!

In April 2024, after standout G League efforts, he earned a standard Celtics contract. What was his contribution to the 2024 NBA Playoffs? Queta played crucial minutes in the Celtics’ NBA Finals victory. How did he cap off this journey? His defining moment came on June 17, 2024, when he celebrated an NBA Championship with Joe Mazzulla and the Celtics. And this journey is still going strong. For instance, yesterday the hooper covered for an injured Jaylen Brown. Amidst etching his name in the NBA record books, did you know, that Neemias Queta has been a standout for his country too?

Portugal Basketball’s ‘Personality of the Year’ in 2022!

Neemias Queta has been a star for Portugal’s national team since 2017. He represented Portugal in multiple European Championships, starting with the 2017 FIBA U18, during which he averaged 10.2 points and 8.6 rebounds. In 2019, the hooper led his country to a gold medal in the U20 European Championship, earning All-Tournament honors. His impact on Portugal basketball was recognized in 2022 when he was named ‘Personality of the Year’ by the Portuguese Basketball Federation! Following this, he was then nominated by the FPB for the 26th Sports Gala, of the Portuguese Sports Confederation.

Neemias Queta’s journey from Portugal’s youth teams to the NBA has been remarkable. As he described his game last night, “Same mindset as usual. Just try and contribute to winning. Play as hard as I could, trying to make the right play all the time.” With steady growth, Queta’s future looks promising.